Railway journal lubricator



Jan. 29, 1935. J, J, HE Ess 1,989,417

RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRIGATOR Filed Oct. 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Wren/0r I i [5% flffa f Jan. 29, 1935. J. J. HENNESSY hAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR FiledOct. a, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V hven/or Q/fa/ney '5" 3446 Y I i ww Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED .S'I'ATES PATENT OFFICE 1,989,417 1 RAILWAY JOURNAL .LUBRI CAT R' James J. .iHennessy, New York, N. Application .0ctober13, 1,931,, SerialNo. 566,176

' reclaims. (arena-cs) The invention relates to journal lubricating devices and is particularly adaptable for use with locomotive driverjournals.

object-pf the invention-is to provide a simple and inexpensive journal :lnbricator structure wherein themovement of the w.l'ournal produces zintermittent'oontact of raluhricating :padwith the :surfacemf zthejenrnal to efieetively lubricate the same.

and -.other-rletail objects which will be referred {to latex-tare :attained by the structures illustrated in the aceompan mgzdrawings in figure i1 {8 longitudinal vertical section -of one item ofthe inventien-showingthe lubricating devicefin the-operative position.

Figure a2 is ;a transverse vertical section taken along thelineQ-flmfiligune 1;

lEigureifi zis' azdetail vertieallongituelinal section through the device and is taken on .line 63"?3 10f .Figurefl. 7'

giligure 4 iis at longitudinal vertical section-of 1a modified dorm ref :the invention skewing the 111- --bricating l deuioe .in the-pperative position. i

. figure Z5 :is .a wertical transverse section taken along dihe -iline M'lfif EEigUIB *4. 3: I

iFfigm-eifi isncdetaihvertical transuersesectional viewsirfzthernmfiified dormmhowing lthestar wheel and tooth pump concreting :means. 18 'i'ignreifliisza detail horizontal section takenson IIineII- ImfrEigIme'Q.

in Eligures 11, 2,:and rthe invention applied .to '18, :locometive 1dr .er having a hub 1 :and a journal (the :lower mortion pf which -.is mantis enclosed by ea reservoir .3 containing .a constantly .-maintainedquantity rof lubricant. Reservoir 3 forms the lower part -.of .a common type of;joumal -hox nositionedrbetween theusual pedestal ,jaws 4\of .the llocomotiveside irame .and yieldingly mounted upon the .spacer .bar .5 Joy means-of thelsnringifi .which, while shown as a .flattyne,mayheiofianydesiredtype.

A lhorizontal .hollow-hoi1sing member '7 ,proided inthe reservoirB andextendslongitudinally thereof xand ,preierably .in'tegral therewith .and .Silllpmted lbyithe vertical .webs '8. ,Pl'unger 9 :iS received ,in 'theihousingfi antl'hasits outer end extending therefrom and throughthe end'wall of fthe reservoir 'andprovided-witha head-portion 9a which :engages'the wheel hub -1. "Ihe inner end 917 ofthe plunger is 'ofteduced diameter and surrounded byithe-spiral spring *l'o which maintains =-a"learance*btween*the inner-eml-of-themlunger *andthe 'end wallpfithe housing and presses the is :shown aslun ewga inst the teee of thewheel hub :51.

. other porous normally stored fin- Housing? is provided on its upper surface .and intermediate its ends with an upright hollow neck 11 leading into-the interior of the housing. An zi-nverted -U-shaped rod 13 has .one leg extending downwardly through neck .111 and rigidly engag- 5 r-ing plunger 9, and the .other leg located outside rthe' necl; .andprovided with a finger 13a substantially at right .angles .thereto. A vertical lever (1,4 .has a forked end Mir-receiving cfinger 13a and is rrigidlyiconnected at itslower end to the .end of a -liQ :rou-nd rad l5 which is journalled in-a ipairiof hearing members 16 rojecting upwardly zfrom the :floorof thereservoirfi. 1 I

-4ZA horizontal vlever l'l-of substantial length, paralleling journal .2, is disposed at right angles A5 to rod .and is igidly connected ,at .one .end thereto. v-I '.eve,r;1,'7 at theppposite end .-is pivotally connected .to a yertical rod .18 which-in tum Jcears upwardlyagainstapan .19.clisposed,beneath the lower surface vofv .the journal andrillustrated 29 comprising..,a light open ztramewor k -Qf vwire imesh. Ran '19 is yieldingly supported on springs 21 near each end-.andtcarries an \oil pad .2,0, shown as comprising a series of strips, of ,felt or (material which ,bears against the Joeari-ngsurface ofthejournal.v y

:As .the journal 2 :moves laterally :due re play-in its bearings, the wheel-hub 1 -will,forcelthe,plllng .er 9sa-nd iu-shapedrod l3 .torreciprocate in hous- .ing il-anol neck 1-1, respectively, spring 10'main- 130 taining the plunger constantly in (engagement with the hub. This movement ..of the plunger .in partsrotation [to levels 14,.l5. and v 157 thelatter rtransmitting the :motion through rod 18 to pan t19vand-rcausing oilsoaked ,pad 2(hto lbe alternately ,35 .forced against the-journal and immersed 1113111- .bri cant, :normally'maintained (at alevel L below pan l9. xTherlength'of lever 1 7-iissuch-as-toicooperate with the spring '21 to :cause the vpad '20, (duringits upward movement, to slap against ;the .40 journal, squeezing-outsome of the absorbed .oil.

' Neck 'l2;proje,cts above the level of thelubricant reservoir 3 a .sumcient distance to prevent the escape of lubricant thrfi l h .the housing .7. .Journalwiping;members, 22'are A provided :on the upper edge of thereservoir -en- V gaging the journal to prevent the lubricant ;from

working longitudinally of the journal ,beyond :the :ends :of pad .20 and -;escaping. Splash plates ,23 are provided von the pad .supporting'pan l9 .and 15 'above thelevelofthe lubricant. g a

Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, illustrate a modified ;form :of :the invention-inwhich the -,portion .of :t-he =j.ournal inside the journal box ,is provided with a tooth-like projection .39.. i'lihezinnfli wvallafi complished with the H 1 constant engagement 55 2 of the cellar 32 is provided with a bearing 42 mounting a shaft 33 which carries on its end inside the cellar a cam 34 and on its other end a star wheel 35. Lever 36, pivoted intermediate its ends to an upright element 43 on the floor of the cellar, slidingly engages the face of the cam 34 at one end and is yieldingly connected at the opposite end by means of 41 to the middle of the pad supporting pan 3'7. The lever is shown perforated at 'to' accommodate spring 44a which cooperates with spring 44 in maintaining the oil pad normally in engagement with the journal. 7

As the journal rotates in either-direction in its bearings, the tooth projection 39 engages the star wheel 35 and causes the same and the cam 34 to rotate. As lever 36 is engaged by the high portion 34b of cam 34, pan 3''! and oil'pad 38 will be drawn away from the journal against spring ,44 and 44a and asthe lever engages the low portion 34a of, the cam,the springs 44 will cause the pad to forcefully contact with the journal, squeezing out a portion of the absorbed oil, the pad remaining momentarily pressed against the journal to insure adequate lubrication.

In both forms of the invention a predetermined "level of the lubricant is constantly maintained in the reservoir by external means, notshown,

and is such that when the open-work pan is in its; lowest position, the oil pad will be at least partly immersed in the lubricant, thus providing for saturation of the pad at all times. 'In the highest position of the pan,"the pad ispressed against the journal causing lubricant to be discharged thereto. Preferably, the pan support- 1 ing springs will be of sufiicient strength to cause the pad inits upward movement to slap against the journal, squeezing o t a portion of the absorbed oil, thus assuring immediate and adequate lubrication. Or these springs may be just strong enough to support the weight of the pan and pad,- the lever mechanism serving to raise as well as lower the pan and pad.

7 It is apparent that in either of the above forms of the invention wherein either the lateral or rotational movement of the journal is utilized to alternately "dip the pad in the supply of lubricant and press the soaked pad upwardly against the journal, positive lubrication of the journal is acuse of a minimum number of moving parts requiring practically no maintenance or repair. Moreover, the life of the pad 4 wherein a is prolonged over previous arrangements 7 of a lubricating pad with the journal surface is maintained since the tendency to cake along the bearing surface of the pad is practically obviated and the pad is kept thoroughly saturated at all times. Also, more effective lubrication of plished than has heretofore been possible. case of damage to the the oil-soaked pad will nal continuing period. V 7

While integral structures'have been illustrated be held against the jourthe lubrication for a substantial wherever possible because the consequent inl V durability and decreased weight, such partsmay be asembled by suitable meansfwhere desired. Obviously the various creased strength and parts may be varied as to shape and size and may be otherwise modified without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of the novel features disclosed herein and expressed in the appended claimsis contempl ated,'

' What is claimed is:

the bolt 40 and spring connecting said plunger vehicle."

nal, a spring yielding'ly supporting said pad 'urging' 'oneend of said ment of said shoulder, through said plunger to intermittently lower said 1 said journal] a lubricating pad jecting upwardlythereirom above plunger in said housing, the journal is accom- I reciprocating mechanism,

gitudinal movement 1. In combination, an axle, a journal having an annular shoulder, a lubricant reservoir adjaoent said journal, a lubricating pad in said reservoir and movable relative thereto, a plunger slidable through one wall of said reservoir, a spring constantly urging one end of said plunger against said shoulder, and mechanism actuated by said plunger to cause said pad to alternately engage and disengage said journal during movement of the vehicle; t '2 2. In combination, ana e, jo al'having an annular shoulder, a lubricant reservoir adjacent said journal, a lubricating pad in said reservoir and movable relative thereto, a plunger paralleling saidjournal and slidably mounted in one wall ofv said-reservoir, said plunger havin a head engaging said shoulder, and mechanism and said pan and arranged to cause said pad to intermittently rise and engage said journal during movement of the 3. In 00' 'bination,-anaxle, ajournalhaving an annular shoulder, a lubricant reservoir adjacent said journal, alubricating pad beneath said jouragainst'said journal, a plunger slidable through one wall ofsaid reservoir, a spring constantly plunger against'said V transmitting the moverelative to said reservoir,

shoulder, and mechanism pad from-said-journ'al into said reservoir." 4. In combination, an axle, a journal having an annular shoulder, a lubrica' t reservoir adjacent beneath said journal, and mechanismtransmitting "longitudinal movement of said journalyrelative to said reservoir, to said pad,- sai'd-mechanismcomprising a plunger parallelingf said journal and islid'ably mounted in an 5 upright wall "of "said reservoir, a -40 spring constantly maintaining said plunger 'in "engagement with-said shoulder, bearing elements projecting above the floor of said reservoir, a

rod rotatably mounted" in said elements and disposed transverselyof said' journal, and operative connections between said rod and said pad and 7 said rod"and' said plunger whereby "said rod is caused torotatein opposite dir'ectionsandisaid pad is caused to alternately engage and disen- "ga'ge said journal during movement of the-.vehicle.

5. In combinatiom an axle, a journal having'an annular shoulder, a'-' lubricant reservoir adjacent said journal, a pad under said -jo urnal, an elongated housing extending horizontally'in said reservoir and beneath "the normal level=of lubricant therein, said housing having ahollow -neck prosaidlevel, a

aispring in said housing constantly maintainingsaid plunger in'en gagement with saidshoulder, and-mechanism in-" cluding elements extending through said neck and engaging said plunger for transmitting jlon- .of said plunger relative, to

saidjournal to said alternately engage'said journal and be immersed in lubricant during the movement of the vehicle.

f 6. In combination, an axle, a journal, vare'sera cam rotatable with saidshaft, means for rotat- "ing 'said'wheel from'saidjournal, and means transmitting rotation of said cam. to said pad whereby said pad'iisicaused to:;alternately engage pad and causing said pad to and disengage said journal during movement of the vehicle.

7. In combination, an axle, a journal, a tooth element projecting therefrom, a lubricant reservoir adjacent said journal, a lubricant pad beneath said journal, a shaft rotatably mounted in a wall of said reservoir, a toothed wheel rotatable with said shaft and operable by said element, a cam rotatable with said shaft and located inside said reservoir, and a lever pivoted to said reservoir, one portion of said lever being operatively engaged by said cam and another portion engaging said pad whereby rotation of said journal causes said pad to alternately engage and disengage said journal.

8. A lubricating device for a railway locomotive driver journal comprising a box-like member for application to the journal between the pedestal jaws and constructed to hold a supply of oil, a rod extending from the interior of said member to the exterior thereof to contact with the hub of the driver, a pad element in said member, and means operated by said rod, as the latter is reciprocated by said hub, to raise and lower said pad to apply the pad to the journal and to lower the pad into the oil.

9. In a railway vehicle, a journal having an annular shoulder, a lubricant reservoir adjacent said journal, a perforated pan in said reservoir and movable relative thereto, a lubricating pad supported on said pan, a spring in said reservoir providing yielding support for said pan and pad, said pad when under the influence of said spring alone engaging said journal, a plunger slidable through one Wall of said reservoir, a spring constantly urging one end of said plunger against said shoulder, and mechanism transmitting the movement of said plunger to said pan and arranged to cause said pad to alternately engage and disengage said journal during movement of the vehicle.

10. A lubricating device for an axle journal comprising a lubricant reservoir arranged to be mounted adjacent the journal, a lubricating pad, yielding means for supporting said pad above the normal oil level in said reservoir and in engagement with said journal, and mechanism operated by the movement of the journal relative to said reservoir and arranged to intermittently depress said pad away from the journal and beneath said oil level and then release said pad.

11. In combination, an axle journal, a lubricant reservoir adjacent the same, a lubricating pad in said reservoir, yielding means normally maintaining said pad in engagement with said journal, and mechanism operated by the movement of said journal relative to said reservoir and arranged to intermittently move said pad away from said journal and into said reservoir and then permit said pad to be returned to its normal position by said yielding means.

12. In combination, an axle journal, a lubricant reservoir beneath the same, an absorbent pad, a spring normally maintaining said pad in en gagement with said journal, and. mechanism operated by the movement of said journal relative to said reservoir and arranged to intermittently depress said pad beneath the normal oil level in said reservoir and then release said pad permitting the same tobe slapped against said journal by said spring to squeeze out a portion of the absorbed lubricant.

JAS J. HENNESSY. 

